Is it okay to ask a friend?

[MissHell]

My friend is going to doggie-sit for me while I am out of town. I am paying her (quite well) to stay with my dog. I got a credit card in her name, on my account - in case of an emergency.

I am a worrier, always think of "worst case scenario". I trust my friend and I highly doubt anything would happen, but is it rude to ask her to sign something stating the credit card is only for emergencies that are dog and/or townhouse related?

[Rangerscott]

Eh. Just report fruadulant charges.

Go to a convient store or walmart and get one of those visa/american express credit cards. You can put what ever amount on them and they act just like a credit card

[Tmall]

My friend is going to doggie-sit for me while I am out of town. I am paying her (quite well) to stay with my dog. I got a credit card in her name, on my account - in case of an emergency.

I am a worrier, always think of "worst case scenario". I trust my friend and I highly doubt anything would happen, but is it rude to ask her to sign something stating the credit card is only for emergencies that are dog and/or townhouse related?

Put it somewhere in the house, in a sealed envelope and tell her to contact you if anything happens. Then, and only then do you tell her where it is...

[MissHell]

Go to a convient store or walmart and get one of those visa/american express credit cards. You can put what ever amount on them and they act just like a credit card
I thought about that, but didn't want to front the money for the card and then be stuck with that card. Plus (again worst case) if she needed $1-$2k for a vet bill, I'd want it to be available to her.

[Slowpoke]

I think that's nice of you to plan ahead like that, but very unusual. I would definately have her sign something if your giving her a credit card. Not sure I would even give one of my sisters a credit card of mine. If an emergency does come up you could always give your info over the phone to someone who needs it.

[MissHell]

Put it somewhere in the house, in a sealed envelope and tell her to contact you if anything happens. Then, and only then do you tell her where it is...

That's a great idea! :yes:

I had a friend who had someone cat-sitting, that she gave "emergency money", the sitter spent the money and left the cat home alone for days. :(

[MissHell]

I think that's nice of you to plan ahead like that, but very unusual. I would definately have her sign something if your giving her a credit card. Not sure I would even give one of my sisters a credit card of mine. If an emergency does come up you could always give your info over the phone to someone who needs it.
I should call the 2 vets and see if they will accept it over the phone. Some places these days won't accept CC numbers over the phone. :confused:

[racedoll]

Put it somewhere in the house, in a sealed envelope and tell her to contact you if anything happens. Then, and only then do you tell her where it is...

I think this is a good idea.

[Apoc]

Totally not what I was hoping for with a title like 'Is it ok to ask a friend'....

[G-Rex]

I may be the anomaly here. How good a friend is she? Have you known her a long time?

If she's not *that* good a friend that you would automatically trust her with your CC, why would you trust her with your dog?

I would trust my best friend with my life, and everything down from there. If we were in your situation, it wouldn't even need to be said. Things would be taken care of and we would square up with each other later.

[Amber Lamps]

Holy cow, how long are you going to be gone? BTW I took my dog on vacation with me...:lol: I'm sure that the vet would take a card number over the phone.Even if just to secure payment for services until you get home.

[Amber Lamps]

I may be the anomaly here. How good a friend is she? Have you known her a long time?

If she's not *that* good a friend that you would automatically trust her with your CC, why would you trust her with your dog?

I would trust my best friend with my life, and everything down from there. If we were in your situation, it wouldn't even need to be said. Things would be taken care of and we would square up with each other later.


I agree...of course I wouldn't have to pay my friends to dog sit either....:idk:

[MissHell]

I totally trust her, I am VERY picky on who I ask to watch the dog. He's my baby. :o I am just one to always think about the worst case possibilities. :shrug:

My original plan was to fly my Mom here from the Mainland, she is my first choice to doggie-sit. Ironically she is already doggie-sitting for my brother and can't make it. I figured I was going to pay that much for airfare, I could pay someone at least half that amount to doggie-sit.

The reason I offered to pay, is my dog is well-loved (read = spoiled) and I want the person home evenings and over-night while I am gone. Not just someone to check in a few times to walk/feed him. It will give me peace of mind to know he is getting the extra attention while I am gone.

PS: Dogs cannot travel in/out of Hawaii that easy, due to there are no rabies in Hawaii.

[Papa_Complex]

Tmall has the best idea. It's the best of both worlds; having the money available, without having to trust someone with having access to it the whole time. There are two people in the world I would trust with something like that and neither of them is my mother. What other people think is an emergency isn't necessarily what you do.

[Looni2ns]

NEVER trust ANYONE with your credit cards. Sorry, but speak from experience. If you are worried about a vet bill, contact the vet, let them know who will be keeping your pets, and give them permission to treat in an emergency, then you can give them cc info over the phone. Otherwise, a prepaid cc hidden in the house until needed sounds like a good way to go.

My vet even requires a signed authorization, just like you do with the kids.

[wildchild]

first, no way would I leave someone with a CC of mine. Too tempting to think many "normal" things become emerg. all vets I have dealt with had no problem taking my CC over the phone when a friend brought my dog into their office. As well as other businesses.

second, honestly don't be offended if she doesn't treat fido the same as you would. just because your dog is very spoiled by you doesn't mean he will be by her. i doubt she will actually be giving up her evenings to spend time with a dog just because she is paid to do that. I say that from experience. people often think you are crazy (not you particularly but pet owners in general) if you treat your dog very well and are not likely to do the same as you would while your gone.

[HokieDNA01]

I like the hide the card idea. Or just check with your vet before hand if they would take a credit card over the phone.

[VatorMan]

We have a dog sitter quite often. We have an agreement with our Vet about payment. We actually have a CC on file with them for emergencies.

[Rider]

If anything happened you could contact the vet and make arrangements to pay via CC over the phone. Any other misc charges for food or whatever could be paid back to your friend upon your return. I have dog sitters a lot and I NEVER leave them money. Never had too. My dog sitters know where my vet is and if something happened, the vet would surely perform any medical procedures and send me a bill later.

[CrazyKell]

I've looked after a lot of dogs for friends. I treat them just as good as my own and sometimes better because it's someone new to spoil.

I like the idea of "hiding" the card and she can call you and use it in the case of an emergency. But also, like others have said, your vet will more than likely take the cc number over the phone.

Good luck! I know how stressful it can be to leave your baby. :tremble:

[azoomm]

NEVER trust ANYONE with your credit cards. Sorry, but speak from experience. If you are worried about a vet bill, contact the vet, let them know who will be keeping your pets, and give them permission to treat in an emergency, then you can give them cc info over the phone. Otherwise, a prepaid cc hidden in the house until needed sounds like a good way to go.

My vet even requires a signed authorization, just like you do with the kids.

This.

Or, contact your Vet and have a card on account with them.

I've had friends stay over and watch Sadie for me. There hasn't ever been an issue - incidentals have always been taken care of and we settled up on any money when I came home.

Do NOT forget to get something from your trip as a thank you to your friend :wink:

[EpyonXero]

I may be the anomaly here. How good a friend is she? Have you known her a long time?

If she's not *that* good a friend that you would automatically trust her with your CC, why would you trust her with your dog?

I would trust my best friend with my life, and everything down from there. If we were in your situation, it wouldn't even need to be said. Things would be taken care of and we would square up with each other later.

Yep. If I couldnt trust someone to hold an emergency credit card then I wouldnt trust them with a key to my house either.

I dont think you should have them sign anything, if you feel like you need them to sign something then you should find someone else to watch your dog. In fact, if I were your friend and you asked me to sign a form saying I promise not to steal from you Id tell you to find someone else to do it.

[Dave]

That's a great idea! :yes:

I had a friend who had someone cat-sitting, that she gave "emergency money", the sitter spent the money and left the cat home alone for days. :(

how much sitting do cats need? As long as food and water is available and the box was recently cleaned im pretty sure mine wouldnt care if i was gone :lol:

[Cruzergirl]

how much sitting do cats need? As long as food and water is available and the box was recently cleaned im pretty sure mine wouldnt care if i was gone :lol:

My Maine Coon thrives on attention. I can tell when I go away for a couple of days, she is glued to my side for at least that long when I get back. :lol:

[LeeNetworX]

If my friend couldn't be trusted with a credit card "just for emergencies" I wouldn't trust them to watch my house/dogs. :idk:

[Tsunami]

I like the idea of keeping a CC on file with the Vet.

I left Puggy at Daniel's place when I went back to NY for the wedding. I gave him a CC , I figured if anything happened, I can verify with the vet's office. I would never put a CC in anyone's name.

[Papa_Complex]

If my friend couldn't be trusted with a credit card "just for emergencies" I wouldn't trust them to watch my house/dogs. :idk:

If I could tell you how many solid, 20-year friendships I had seen ended by money......

[Apoc]

Yep. If I couldnt trust someone to hold an emergency credit card then I wouldnt trust them with a key to my house either.

I dont think you should have them sign anything, if you feel like you need them to sign something then you should find someone else to watch your dog. In fact, if I were your friend and you asked me to sign a form saying I promise not to steal from you Id tell you to find someone else to do it.

Agreed.

And, if I was going to spend money to have my dog taken care of, i'd just bring her to a kennel with a good reputation.

But giving a credit card and asking to sign a release is pretty ridiculous. Plus, that type of stuff usually doesnt hold up in court, because its not notarized.

[CrazyKell]

I'd rather a friend look after a dog any day over a kennel. I just don't trust kennels.

[Apoc]

I'd rather a friend look after a dog any day over a kennel. I just don't trust kennels.

Well, a good kennel is a far better place to keep an animal, than leaving it with a friend. Im not talking bubba who keeps the dogs in a cage in his backyard, im talking about good, reputable kennels, and theres plenty out there.

They are much happier in a kennel with other dogs for a few days, than they are home with a stranger they dont know.

I hate that people hear of a few bad kennels and automaticly assume that all kennels are the same. My dogs vet reccomends certain kennels for owners that she deals with and knows are reputable. I'd rather them then a 'friend' I need to pay to half ass look after my dog.

[Tmall]

Well, a good kennel is a far better place to keep an animal, than leaving it with a friend. Im not talking bubba who keeps the dogs in a cage in his backyard, im talking about good, reputable kennels, and theres plenty out there.

They are much happier in a kennel with other dogs for a few days, than they are home with a stranger they dont know.

I hate that people hear of a few bad kennels and automaticly assume that all kennels are the same. My dogs vet reccomends certain kennels for owners that she deals with and knows are reputable. I'd rather them then a 'friend' I need to pay to half ass look after my dog.

We always leave the dogs with friends. Said friends do the same with us. It's not fun having 4 dogs in a house, but it beats paying strangers to look after my dogs.

[MissHell]

And, if I was going to spend money to have my dog taken care of, i'd just bring her to a kennel with a good reputation.

My thought process is it's better to keep him in familiar surroundings, especially since my dog is 16 and only has about 25% of his vision left.

I'd rather leave my dog with a friend, than a kennel.

[MissHell]

Honestly it's not that I don't trust the friend that is doggie-sitting. I am just a worrier and always think about what if.

I like to have a plan A, B and C before I do anything. It's amazing that I ride, cause everything else I do, I worry about and stress over. :lol

[Apoc]

We always leave the dogs with friends. Said friends do the same with us. It's not fun having 4 dogs in a house, but it beats paying strangers to look after my dogs.

Oh ya, but you love dogs, like me. And so do the people you leave your dogs with, im sure. But, doesnt sound like someone being paid is much of a dog person. If they had their own dog, they'd probably just take it for a few days, gladly.

[Amber Lamps]

how much sitting do cats need? As long as food and water is available and the box was recently cleaned im pretty sure mine wouldnt care if i was gone :lol:

Next they'll be goldfish sitting!:lol:

[CrazyKell]

Oh ya, but you love dogs, like me. And so do the people you leave your dogs with, im sure. But, doesnt sound like someone being paid is much of a dog person. If they had their own dog, they'd probably just take it for a few days, gladly.

I'm a big dog person and have never been paid. I will stay at someone's house, or bring the dogs to mine. It's never been an issue. But I understand where Miss Hell is coming from. She said she's a worrier!

[MILK]

I'm a big dog person and have never been paid. I will stay at someone's house, or bring the dogs to mine. It's never been an issue. But I understand where Miss Hell is coming from. She said she's a worrier!

Well good I need you to stay at the cabin May 19th - 23rd while I'm at the Gap! :lol:

Misshell I actually prefer to pay a professional. I have a vet tech at my vet's office who comes out for $20 a day. Last time she watched them they didn't have beds (hadn't made them yet) so she left them her sweatshirt, a uniform shirt, and a sheet to sleep on! :lol: Plus she's not scared of my Rottie!

[Cutty72]

My dog stays with my hunting buddy when I'm gone (ok, right now when the gf is gone :lol:) She gets to hang out with HER hunting buddies (2 German shorthairs, 2 Yellow labs, a Weimeraner, and a terrier) and get's qualified attention and training while there.
All I do is provide the food for her while she's there, and help out around his place on projects during the summer and hunting season.

[CrazyKell]

Well good I need you to stay at the cabin May 19th - 23rd while I'm at the Gap! :lol:

There's an overlap. I'll be in the Gap on the 22nd!

[MILK]

There's an overlap. I'll be in the Gap on the 22nd!

Ya! See you there ! :)